Contents transmitter apparatus, contents receiver apparatus and contents transmitting method

ABSTRACT

For achieving the protection of copyright, by suppressing illegal copy production thereof, in particular, when transmitting contents with using a wired or wireless LAN, as well as, for preventing the transmission of contents from deviating from a range of a personal use thereof, a contents transmitter apparatus and a contents receiver apparatus make an authentication, mutually, before transmitting contents therebetween. At the time when conducting this authentication, measurement is made upon a time-period up to arrival of a receipt confirmation responding to the transmission of an authentication request or a response to the authentication; then, only in the case when this value measured does not exceed a predetermined upper value, the transmission is conducted on the contents encrypted, and at the same time, address information and equipment information unique to the apparatus are registered, thereby conducting the transmission of encrypted contents, but without conducting the time-measurement thereon, when transmitting the contents, again. Also, while conducting the time-measurement periodically, dynamic management is made on the registration information, so that the contents thereof are suitable for the network structure at the present.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/846,922, filed on May 17, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,836,507, claimingpriority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-079451, filed on Mar.19, 2004, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transmitter apparatus and a receiverapparatus, being suitable for protecting the copyright of contentstransmitted, such as, audio/video information, for example, inparticular, when transmitting the contents through a network.

Accompanying developments made on a personal computer (hereinafter,being called by “PC”), in particular, on the processing capacity; suchas, the calculation speed and/or the memory capacity thereof, a tendencyis also advancing into bringing a hard disk drive (hereinafter, beingcalled by “HDD”), which is built-in within the PC, to be large in thecapacity thereof. Under such the situation as was mentioned above, inrecent years, it comes to be possible to make it in such a way of using;i.e., viewing the picture of TV broadcasting program recoded on adisplay of the PC, while recording it with using the HDD, on the PC ofsuch a rank that is widely used at home. On the other hand, with thetendency of a low price of the HDD having a large capacity, a HDDrecording apparatus appears on the market, building the HDD therein anddigitally recoding video/audio information therein, to be a householdrecording apparatus, for example, and it attracts an attention for agood usability thereof, due to the fact that a disk is used as a mediumfor recoding the picture thereon.

On the other hand, for the purpose of achieving the copyright protectionon the information, such as the contents, etc., there is already known amethod of copy protection, which is already applied in digital AVequipments, such as, Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP)method (described in “5C Digital Transmission Content Protection WhitePaper, by Hitachi, Ltd., Non-Patent Publication 1), as an examplethereof, determining a copy protection method on the IEEE1394 bus, forexample.

Also, there are already disclosed a several number of technologies, forachieving the copy protection for the purpose of copyright protectionbetween the apparatuses or between networks; such as, Patent Document 1(Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-287192 (2000)) and Patent Document2 (Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-358706 (2001)), for example.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With such the recording apparatus and/or the PC applying the HDDtherein, as was mentioned above, since the video/audio information isrecorder on the HDD fixed within the apparatus, then the apparatusitself must be carried when viewing the program recorded in other roomswithin a house; therefore, it is difficult to achieve a portability ofthe video/audio information by a level of a recording medium; such as,using a removable or exchangeable medium to be exchanged while providingthe recording/reproducing apparatuses, such as, the VTR, etc., in aplural number thereof.

Then, it can be considered to transmit the contents to other PC or areceiver apparatus through a network, while installing an interface forwired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), thereby enabling the viewingof the video/audio information recorded in any place or room within thesame house.

Conventionally, in a case where the contents is transmitted to anotherPC or a receiver apparatus through the network, while installing aninterface for the wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), therebyenabling to view the video/audio information recorded in anywhere withinthe house, however no consideration was paid upon the copyrightprotection of the video/audio information (hereinafter, explanation willbe made it to be “contents”), to be protected the copyright thereof;then, the video/audio information recorded on the HDD can be furtherreserved on a HDD in other PC, receiving it through the LAN, andtherefore the video/audio information which can be treated by thatapparatus must be the contents of so-called “Copy fee”, being able tomake a copy thereof, freely.

In general, when transmitting the contents digitally recorded throughthe network, etc., from a certain apparatus to other apparatus, to berecorded therein, since a copy (a duplicate) can be produced at areceiver side, being same in the quality to that contents located at thetransmitter side, due to the fact that deterioration or degradation isless in the data quality during the time-period of transmission thereof,therefore there is a necessity of paying a consideration into, inparticular, for the video and audio data (hereinafter, being called by“contents”) to be protected the copyright thereof, so that it can beprotected from being produced an illegal copy thereof, deviating from arange of a personal use thereof. For example, when transmitting thecontents between the digital AV equipments, coding or encryption is madeon the contents at the transmitter side thereof, while the informationfor decoding or decryption is held between the transmitter side and thereceiver side of contents, so that the contents cannot be correctly orlegally copied by an apparatus other than the contents receiverapparatus, at an end of the transmission, thereby achieving the copyprotection thereon from being copied endlessly.

As an example of such the method of copy protection, in particular,being applied into the digital AV equipment, there is already known aDTCP method described in the Non-Patent Document 1, for example. Underthe DTCP method, while classifying the contents into “Copy free”, “Copyone generation”, “No more copies” and “Copy never”, to be managed with,the recording apparatus can records only the contents of the “Copy free”and the “Copy one generation”; however, it treats the contents of the“Copy one generation” to be that of “No more copies”, while treating theencryption process upon the contents on the bus, excepting for that ofthe “Copy free”, at the transmitter side, thereby bringing itunattainable of copying the contents endlessly.

On the transmission of contents with using the wired or wireless LAN,there are disclosed a several technologies for achieving the copyprotection for the purpose of copyright protection, in the way ofthinking similar to that of the DTCP method. For example, the PatentDocument 1 mentioned above discloses therein a technology, for applyinga method similar to the DTCP into the method of the copy protection foruser in the communication of digital contents on the network, and alsothe Patent Document 2 discloses a technology for making up the structurebetween the apparatuses, which communicate the contents encrypted forachieving the copyright protection, in the similar manner.

And, when transmitting the contents through the wired or wireless LAN,it is not taken into the consideration thereof, that the transmitterside and the receiver side are locating within the same house or not.Rather, in a case when conducting a downloading from a distributorserver, for example, it is common that the transmitter side is locatedwithin aside of the provider, while the receiver side within a house, ingeneral.

Accordingly, even if applying the technology mentioned above into a casewhen trying to record the contents by means of the HDD of the PC, or therecording apparatus building the HDD therein, thereby trying to transmitit from here to the other apparatus locating outside the house; then, itis possible to receive the contents to be displayed, for the otherreceiver apparatus, which is locating within the other house and isconnected therewith through an Internet, if the LAN in that house isconnected to the Internet, for example, however the contents can be alsospread further to anywhere all over the world, in the region thereof, inparticular, if it is connected to the Internet.

Under such the situation, even trying to achieve the copy protectionwith an aid of such the technology mentioned above, for example, howeverif the user of the recording apparatus brings the recording apparatus tobe accessible from the Internet, it is possible to receive and displaythe contents, freely, with an aid of any other receiver apparatus havingsuch the copy protection; therefore, it deviates from a region of thepersonal use, to be an inherent object for the copyright protection.

According to the present invention, an object is to provide atransmitter apparatus and a receiver apparatus for contents orinformation, and also a contents transmitting method, enabling animplementation of the copy protection for preventing from the illegalcopying or duplication of the contents, when transmitting the contentsby using such the wired or wireless LAN provided within a house, andfurther, enabling to make a restriction upon the legal viewing of thecontents and/or production of the copy or duplicate thereof, within aregion of the personal use.

For dissolving the problems mentioned above, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a contents transmitter apparatus forconducting transmission of contents through a network, comprising: anetwork communication processing means for conducting transmission ofdata through a network; a transmission contents producing means forsupplying contents, to be transmitted to a contents receiver apparatus,which is connected thereto through said network, to said networkcommunication processing means; an authentication means for receiving anauthentication request from said contents receiver apparatus, so as tomake determination upon an authentication to said authenticationrequest, and also for issuing an authentication request of itself tosaid contents receiver apparatus; an encryption means for producing keyinformation upon basis of information, which is obtained throughexecution of an authentication processing in said authentication means,and for conducting encryption processing on the contents to betransmitted to said contents receiver apparatus with an aid of said keyinformation; a timer means (or a time measuring means) for transmittingan authentication request or a time authentication request to saidcontents receiver apparatus, and for measuring a time-period up to whenreceiving a response to said request, or for measuring a time up toarrival of a receipt confirmation from said contents receiving apparatusresponding to transmission of a response to the authentication requestfrom said contents receiving apparatus, depending upon the necessitythereof; and an equipment-information management means for registeringand managing equipment information about said contents receiverapparatus, wherein said equipment-information management means controlsthe registration of an address information of said contents receiverapparatus and an equipment information unique to the apparatus, whichare memorized in advance when manufacturing the apparatus.

Also, according to the present invention, in said timer means, theaddress information and the equipment information unique to theapparatus of said contents receiver apparatus into saidequipment-information management means, if a result of the measurementmade by said timer means does not exceed a predetermined value.

Also, according to the present invention, when receiving a contentsreceipt request from said contents receiver apparatus, transmission ofthe contents is conducted to said contents receiver apparatus withoutconducting time measurement by means of said timer means, when comparingthe address information and the equipment information unique to theapparatus, which are registered within said equipment-informationmanagement means, and the address information and the equipmentinformation unique to the apparatus of said contents receiver apparatus,and if they coincide with.

Also, for the purpose of managing the registration information relatingto the contents receiver apparatus, appropriately, the measurement onthe time is made by said timer means, periodically or at an arbitrarytiming, with respect to said contents receiver apparatus, which isregistered of said information thereof, thereby renewing saidregistration information depending upon a result of said measurement.

Further, according to the present invention, for dissolving the problemsmentioned above, there is provided a contents receiver apparatus forreceiving contents through a network, comprising: a networkcommunication processing means for conducting transmission of datathrough a network; a contents receiving and processing means forreceiving contents received from a contents transmitter apparatus, whichis connected through said network, from said network communicationprocessing means; an authentication means for issuing an authenticationrequest to be transmitted to said contents transmitter apparatus, andfor conducting determination upon authentication with respect to anauthentication request from said contents transmitter apparatus; adecryption means for producing key information upon basis ofinformation, which is obtained through execution of an authenticationprocess within said authentication means, and for executing decryptionprocess of the contents received from said contents transmitterapparatus with an aid of said key information; a timer means formeasuring a time up to arrival of a receipt confirmation from saidcontents transmitter apparatus, responding to the transmission of theauthentication request to said contents transmitter apparatus or thetransmission of a response to the authentication request from saidcontents transmitter apparatus, or a means for making a request oftransmitting the time authentication request to said contentstransmitter apparatus, and for responding to the time authenticationrequest transmitted from said contents transmitter apparatus; and anequipment-information management means for registering and managing theequipment information of said contents transmitter apparatus, whereinsaid equipment-information management means makes control upon theregistration of the address information of said contents transmitterapparatus and the equipment information unique to the apparatus, whichis memorized in advance when manufacturing the apparatus, depending upona result of the measurement in said timer means.

Also, for the purpose of managing the registration information relatingto the contents transmitter apparatus, appropriately, the measurement onthe time is made by said timer means, periodically or at an arbitrarytiming, with respect to said contents transmitter apparatus, which isregistered of said information thereof, thereby renewing saidregistration information depending upon a result of said measurement.

Also, a response is made to the time authentication request transmittedfrom said contents transmitter apparatus, and measurement is made on atime up to said response within said contents transmitter apparatus,wherein the address information and the equipment information unique tothe apparatus of itself are registered within said contents transmitterapparatus if said result of measurement does not exceed a predeterminedvalue.

And, also, a response is made responding to a time authenticationrequest transmitted from said contents transmitter apparatus, andmeasurement is conducted on a time up to said response within saidcontents transmitter apparatus, thereby making a request to saidcontents transmitter apparatus, depending upon necessity thereof, oftransmitting said time authentication request from said contentstransmitter apparatus.

Namely, according to the present invention, the contents transmitterapparatus and the contents receiver apparatus make an authentication,mutually, before making transmission of the contents therebetween, andat the time when conducting this authentication, the measurement is madeon the time-period up to the arrival of the receipt confirmation inresponse to the transmission of the authentication request, or of theresponse to the authentication; then, only in the case when thismeasured value does not exceed a predetermined upper value, thetransmission is conducted on the contents, which is encrypted with usinga common key data, and at the same time, the address information and theequipment information unique to the apparatus are registered, therebyenabling the transmission of encrypted contents without conducting thetime-measurement mentioned above thereon, when transmitting thecontents, again. Also, reconsideration is made on the contents of theaddress information and the equipment information unique to theapparatus, periodically or at an arbitrary timing, thereby avoiding theapparatus, which is not connected to the network or is low in thefrequency of use, from keeping the condition of being registeredtherein.

With this, it is possible to execute the copy protection upon thecontents for preventing them from an illegal copying thereof, inparticular, when the contents is transmitted with using a wired orwireless LAN provided within a house, and further possible to restrictthe viewing and the copy production of the contents within a region ofpersonal use.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to improvereliability of the contents transmitter apparatus and the contentsreceiver apparatus, and also of transmission of the contents, using thewired or wireless LAN provided within a house.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Those and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a view for showing the structure of a contents transmitterapparatus and a contents receiver apparatus with using a wired LANtherein, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 a block diagram for showing a wired LAN system, which is made upwith the contents transmitter apparatus and the contents receiverapparatus, according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view for showing an equipment informationregistration circuit of the contents transmitter apparatus, according tothe present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view for showing a list, which is registered within theequipment information registration circuit of the contents transmitterapparatus, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view for showing a process of transmitting contents betweenthe contents receiver apparatuses, according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view for showing processes for conducting a secure andcorrect time authentication between the contents transmitterapparatuses, according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view for showing the structure when transmitting thecontents through the Internet between the contents transmitter apparatusand the contents receiver apparatus, according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view for showing the structure of the contents transmitterapparatus and the contents receiver apparatus, but using a wireless LANtherein, according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for showing a wireless LAN system, which ismade up with the contents transmitter apparatus and the contentsreceiver apparatus, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 10( a) and 10(b) are views for showing the structure of using aPDA therein, according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is one example for showing the detailed view of the equipmentinformation registration circuit of the contents transmitter apparatus,according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view for showing one example of lists, which are registeredwithin the equipment information registration circuit of the contentstransmitter apparatus, according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows an example of processes to be executed at the contentstransmitter apparatus side, when an authentication is succeeded betweenthe contents transmitter apparatus and the contents receiver apparatus,according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows an example of processes for the contents transmitterapparatus to execute a time authentication, periodically, according tothe present invention;

FIG. 15 shows an example of processes for the contents transmitterapparatus to execute the time authentication, in particular, when anelectric power source thereof is turned on, according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 shows an example of processes for the contents transmitterapparatus to execute the time authentication, in particular, when areservation is made for viewing or recording of the contents, betweenthe contents transmitter apparatus and the contents receiver apparatus,according to the present invention; and

FIG. 17 shows an example of processes for the contents receiverapparatus to request the time authentication, according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will befully explained, by referring to the attached drawings.

Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, explanation will be given on the embodiment 1, according tothe present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view for showing the structures of the contents transmitterapparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus 200, according to oneembodiment of the present invention, wherein the contents transmitterapparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus 200 are connected witheach other through a LAN. In the contents transmitter apparatus 100, areference numeral 101 depicts a contents transmitter circuit for sendingout the contents to the contents receiver apparatus 200, 102 anencryption circuit for encoding or encrypting the contents, which isoutputted by the contents transmitter apparatus 100, 103 a networkcommunication processing circuit for communicating an output of theencryption circuit 102 and an input/output of an authentication circuit104 with other apparatus(e) through the LAN, 104 the authenticationcircuit, for conducting a mutual authentication between apparatusesthrough conducting information between the other apparatus(es), beingconnected onto the LAN, 105 a non-volatile memory for storinginformation necessary for the processing conducted within theauthentication circuit 104, 106 a key producing circuit for producing akey information necessary for encrypting the contents within theencryption circuit 102, 107 a timer circuit for measuring a time-period,starting from the time when transmitting the information to the otherapparatus(es), such as, the authentication request, which is generatedby the authentication circuit 104, for example, up to the time when areceipt confirmation arrives at responding to that information, and 108is an equipment information registration circuit for registering theequipment information about the other apparatus(es), which is/areauthenticated in the authentication circuit 104, thereby managing themtherein; wherein the contents provided from the contents transmitterapparatus 101 is attached with a discrimination code indicative of amanner of handling or treatment thereof; such as, “Copy free”, “Copy onegeneration”, “No more copies” or “Copy never”, and then, it istransmitted to the contents receiver apparatus.

In the contents receiver apparatus 200, a reference numeral 201 depictsa contents receiving circuit for receiving the contents transmittedthrough the LAN, 202 a decryption circuit for receiving the contentsencrypted within the encryption circuit 102 of the contents transmittingcircuit 102 from the network communication processing circuit 203, fordecryption thereof, so as to provide it to the contents receivingcircuit 201, 203 a network communication processing circuit, forcommunicating an input to the decryption circuit 202 and an input/outputof the authentication circuit 204 between the other apparatus(es)through the network, 204 the authentication circuit for achieving amutual authentication between the apparatuses, through communication ofinformation between the other apparatus(es), 205 a non-volatile memoryfor storing therein the information necessary for processing within theauthentication circuit 204, 206 a key producing circuit for producing akey necessary for decryption of the information within theauthentication circuit 202, upon the basis of the information outputtedby the authentication circuit 204, 207 a timer circuit for measuring atime-period, starting from the time when transmitting the information,such as, the authentication request, for example, from theauthentication circuit 204 to the other apparatus, up to the time when areceipt confirmation arrives at responding to that information, 208 anequipment information registration circuit for registering the equipmentinformation of the other apparatus(es), which are authenticated in theauthentication circuit 204, thereby managing it; wherein the contentsreceived is processed in accordance with the discrimination code, whichis transmitted together with the contents; such as, “Copy free”, “Copyone generation”, “No more copies” or “Copy never”, for example. Thus,the contents of “Copy free” or “Copy one generation” can be recorded ina recording medium, while the contents of “Copy one generation”, whenbeing recorded, thereafter it is treated to be that of “No more copies”.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the LAN provided in a house,including therein the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and thecontents receiver apparatus 200. One (1) set of the contents transmitterapparatus 100 and two (2) sets of the contents receiver apparatus 200 aand 200 b are connected to a network hub device 300, through cables ofthe wired LAN, respectively, while the network hub device 300 isconnected to a router 400. The router 400 is connected with the Internetthrough; such as, a modem, a photoelectric conversion element, etc., forexample. With the contents transmitter apparatus 100, the contentsreceiver apparatuses 200 a and 200 b, and the router 400, each of themhas it's own IP address, respectively, for identifying itself on theLAN. Also, within an interface portion of the each network communicationprocessing circuit, there was already given or memorized a MAC (MediaAccess Control) address of 48 bits, when it is manufactured. Setting upof the IP address to each of the apparatuses or devices may be made; forexample, by assigning the IP address to each of the apparatuses from therouter 400, operating it as a DHCP server, according to the DHCP(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), being widely adopted for anautomatic setup of addresses in the network, conventionally. However, incase of using an IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6), it is possible foreach of the apparatuses to determine it's own IP address of itself, fromupper 64 bits of the IP address within the router 400 and the MACaddress, according to the method, which is called by a statelessautomatic setting.

FIG. 3 is a view for showing the structure of the equipment informationregistration means 108, which is held by the contents transmitterapparatus 100. As an example, explanation will be given on an example ofthe method, for registering the address information and also theequipment information being unique to the apparatus about the contentsreceiver apparatus, in particular, in a case where the contents receiverapparatus 200 is connected to the network, to which the contentstransmitter apparatus is connected. A reference numeral 1081 indicatesan equipment-information obtaining portion for obtaining the addressinformation and the equipment information unique to the apparatus fromthe contents receiver apparatus 200, 1082 an equipment-informationregistration portion for registering therein the address information andthe equipment information unique to the apparatus of the contentsreceiver apparatus, which are obtained in the said equipment-informationobtaining portion 1081, and 1083 an equipment-information managementportion for registering the contents receiver apparatus 200 and also forauthenticating the contents receiver apparatus 200 from the equipmentinformation registered within the equipment-information registrationportion 1082. In the equipment-information obtaining portion 1081, forexample, an application for use of registering the equipmentinformation, or a Web page for use of the registration, using a browsertherein, is transmitted to the contents receiver apparatus 200. Uponreceipt of the said application for use of registering the equipmentinformation or the Web page for use of the registration, the contentsreceiver apparatus 200 registers the address information of itself andthe equipment information unique to the apparatus into the contentstransmitter apparatus 100, automatically, or through inputting aregistration item which is made by a user, in accordance with theapplication for use of registration of the equipment information or thecontents instructed on the Web page. Herein, the equipment informationunique to the apparatus may be, such as, a publication key, which isproduced by a specific authenticating organization and reserved withinthe non-volatile memory 205 of the contents receiver apparatus, forexample. Since the said publication key is one, which was memorized intothe non-volatile memory 205 in advance, for example, when the contentsreceiver apparatus 200 is manufactured; therefore, it is possible to owna unique value for each of those apparatuses. FIG. 4 shows an example ofthe equipment information, which is registered within theequipment-information registration portion 1082. Thus, the IP addressand the MAC address are registered as the address information of thecontents receiver apparatus 200, while the publication key as theinformation unique to the apparatus, which is reserved within thenon-volatile memory 205 of the contents receiver apparatus 200.

From those mentioned above, for the contents transmitter apparatus 100,it is possible to specify the contents receiver apparatus 200 that isregistered, upon the basis of the equipment information registeredwithin the equipment-information registration portion 108 mentionedabove, when authenticating the contents receiver apparatus 200.

Herein, the explanation was given in the above, only about the casewhere the publication key is used, to be the information unique to theapparatus, when making authentication mutually, in particular, whenapplying the DTCP therein; wherein, a copy protection method isestablished upon the transmission of contents between the contentstransmitter apparatus and the contents receiver apparatus, which areconnected with each other through the network. However, the informationunique to the apparatus should not be limited only to that publicationkey, in particular, but it is also possible to register otherinformation being unique, as far as it is possible to identify theapparatus.

Also, though the description was made in the above, only upon themethod, wherein the contents transmitter apparatus 100 registers theequipment information of the contents receiver apparatus 200, however itis also true for the method, wherein the contents receiver apparatus 200registers that of the contents transmitter apparatus.

Embodiment 2

Next, explanation will be given below, about an embodiment 2, accordingto the present invention.

According to the feature of the present embodiment, it is possible toprovide a contents transmitter apparatus and a contents receiverapparatus, wherein a copy protection can be executed for protecting thecontents from illegally producing a copy thereof, and further a use ofcontents can be limited within a region of the personal use thereof;such as, viewing and/or producing a copy can be made legally, on thecontents, in particular, when transmitting the contents with using thewired or wireless LAN.

FIG. 5 shows an example of processes when transmitting/receiving thecontents between the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and the contentsreceiver apparatus 200. In this figure, the left-hand side indicates thecontents transmitter apparatus 100, while the right-hand side thecontents receiver apparatus 200, and arrows therein indicate the timingsand the directions of those transmissions made on information betweenboth of them.

In beginning, an authentication request is produced from the side of thecontents receiver apparatus 200. The authentication request produced isthen transmitted to the contents transmitter apparatus 100, beingattached with the publication key unique to the apparatus, as wasmentioned above, and also a certificate to the said publication key.When receiving the authentication request and transmitting aconfirmation of receipt in response thereto, then the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 produces an authentication request from theside of itself, and transmits it to the contents receiver apparatus 200,with attaching the publication key unique to the contents transmitterapparatus 100, which was issued in advance by the authenticationorganization, and also the certificate thereof, in the similar manner tothe case of the contents receiver apparatus, and then, it starts thetimer circuit 107, so as to measure a time-period T1 up to the time whenreceiving the receipt confirmation responding to the authenticationrequest from the contents receiver apparatus 200. In a case where themeasured value within the timer circuit 107 does not exceed apredetermined value (T); thus, T1<T, then it is authenticated that thecontents receiver apparatus 200 is one, being within the region of thepersonal use (hereinafter, being called by “time authentication”).

In this instance, when transmitting the authentication request from itto the contents transmitter apparatus 100, the contents receiverapparatus 200 stars up the timer 207, so as to measure the time-periodT2 up to the time when it receives the receipt confirmation from thecontents transmitter apparatus 100, thereby also enabling to execute thetime authentication, as well. When the authentication is succeeded inthis manner, on each other, then production is made on theauthentication keys, being common with each other to be used commonly.For producing the authentication key, a conventional key exchangealgorithm may be utilized or applied therein. After completion of commonholding of the authentication keys, then the contents transmitterapparatus 100 generates an exchange key and a random number, andencrypting them with an aid of the respective authentication keysthereof, thereby transmitting them to the contents receiver apparatus200.

Although the exchange key and the random number are transmitted,separately, from the contents transmitter apparatus 100 to the contentsreceiver apparatus 200, in FIG. 5 mentioned above, however those may betransmitted after being combined together. The contents receiverapparatus 200 decrypts the exchange key, which is transmitted from thecontents transmitter apparatus 100, with using the authentication key,and also holds it together with the random number received, in thesimilar manner. Following thereafter, on each side of the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus 200, acommon key is produced in accordance with a predetermined calculationalgorithm, with using the exchange key and the random number. With anaid of the common key that is obtained in this manner, it is alsopossible to transmit the contents from the contents transmitterapparatus 100 while receiving the contents, which is decrypted at thecontents receiver apparatus 200.

In a case when the authentication is succeeded between the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus 200, thecontents receiver apparatus 200 transmits the authentication request tothe contents transmitter apparatus 100, upon the chance of this,starting the transmission of the contents encrypted. When completing thetransmission of the contents necessary, the contents transmitterapparatus 100 destroys or breaks out the authentication key, theexchange key, and also the common key, being necessary for encryptionand/or decryption of the contents. And, in the contents receiverapparatus 200, the authentication key, the exchange key, and the commonkey are destroyed, in the similar manner; therefore, it may starts fromissuing the authentication request newly, when it tries to receive ofthe contents, again. However, according to the present embodiment of thepresent invention, as was mentioned previously, the address informationand the equipment information unique to the apparatus of the contentsreceiver apparatus 200 are registered into the equipment-informationregistration circuit 108 of the contents transmitter apparatus 100, whenthe time authentication is made upon the contents receiver apparatus200. With doing so, since the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and thecontents receiver apparatus 200 hold the common key mentioned above,without destroying it, with respect to the contents receiver apparatus200 that is registered within the equipment-information registrationcircuit 108 of the contents transmitter apparatus 100, therefore it isnot necessary to start the receipt of the contents from newlytransmitting the authentication request, when transmitting the contentsagain.

FIG. 6 shows an example for enabling a further secure and correctmeasurement on the time-period, within the time authentication operationmentioned above. As is shown in this FIG. 6, when the authentication issucceeded between the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and thecontents receiver apparatus 200, the contents transmitter apparatus 100,being common with each other, transmits the authentication requestwithin a house to the contents receiver apparatus 200, and at the sametime, it stars up the timer circuit 107. After transmitting the receiptconfirmation responding to the in-house authentication request from thecontents transmitter apparatus 100 mentioned above, the contentsreceiver apparatus 200 transmits a response for in-house confirmation.The contents transmitter apparatus 100 measures a time-period T3 up tothe time when receiving the in-house confirmation response from thecontents receiver apparatus 200, and in a case where it does not exceedsa predetermined value, the contents transmitter apparatus 100authenticates that the said contents receiver apparatus is one of theapparatuses locating within the same house. In this manner, theauthentication is executed between the equipments; i.e., the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus 200, andafter conducting the authentication on each other, and then the timeauthentication is executed, thereby to enable the time authentication,being further secure and correct.

The protocol, which is to be used or applied into when transmitting thecontents from the contents transmitter apparatus 100 to the contentsreceiver apparatus 200, should not be limited to a specific one;however, the followings can be applied therein, such as, RTP (Real-timeTransport Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), FTP (FileTransfer Protocol), etc. Upon transmission of the contents, it may betransmitted while receiving the contents, which is encrypted inaccordance with the predetermined algorithm by using the common key,within a payload portion in each of the transmitting protocol. As analgorithm for encryption may be used the AES (Advanced EncryptionStandard), which is already well-known technology, for example.

With those mentioned above, according to the second embodiment mentionedabove of the present invention, the contents transmitter apparatusregisters therein the address information and the equipment informationunique to the apparatus of the contents receiver apparatus, upon whichthe time authentication was made once, and therefore it can transmit thecontents encrypted when conducting the transmission of contents, again,but without conducting the time authentication no more upon the contentsreceiver apparatus; i.e., eliminating the time authentication, whichmust be conducted for every time when receiving the contents.

Embodiment 3

Hereinafter, explanation will be given on an embodiment 3, according tothe present invention.

According to the present embodiment 3, it is also possible to view thecontents supplied from the contents transmitter apparatus 100 throughthe Internet, such as, upon a portable or mobile telephone apparatus,for example.

FIG. 7 is a view for showing the structure, in particular, when viewingthe contents, being transmitted through the Internet. A referencenumeral 200 c depicts the contents receiver apparatus for portable use,on which the contents transmitter apparatus made the time authenticationonce. For the portable contents receiver apparatus 200 c being connectedto the Internet, since inherently it cannot be authenticated, due to thefact that it brings up the condition that T1>T in the timeauthentication made between the contents transmitter apparatus 100,therefore it cannot receive the contents transmitted from the contentstransmitter apparatus 100. However, according to the present invention,the contents transmitter apparatus 100 has made the time authenticationupon the portable contents receiver apparatus 200 c, once, therebyhaving registered the address information and the publication key uniqueto the apparatus, for the portable contents receiver apparatus 200 c.With doing this, for the portable contents receiver apparatus 200 c, itis possible to receive the contents transmitted from the contentstransmitter apparatus 100, but without conducting the timeauthentication, even in the case where T1>T in the time authentication.

Also, since it is possible to receive the contents transmitted from thecontents transmitter apparatus 100, but only for the apparatuses thatare registered within the equipment-information registering means 108,therefore it is possible to achieve the copy protection, for protectingthe contents from being illegally made a copy thereof, and furtherrestricting the viewing and the copy production of the contents withinthe personal use thereof.

Further, when transmitting the TCP packet for transmitting theauthentication request and the authentication response in response tothe result thereof, it is also possible to apply such a restriction;i.e., setting a TTL (Time To Live) of the TCP packet for conducting thetransmission of contents, or of the IP packet, to be transmitted withreceiving UDP data-gram therein, down to alow value, such as “1”, forexample, so that authentication request will not pass through the router400; thereby enabling to apply a restriction, so that the transmissionof the contents does not exceed over the personal use thereof.

Example 4

Hereinafter, explanation will be given on an embodiment 4, according tothe present invention.

According to the fourth embodiment, the transmission of contents isconducted between a contents transmitter apparatus 500 and a contentsreceiver apparatus, with using the wireless LAN.

FIG. 8 shows the contents transmitter apparatus via the wireless LAN,using the network communication processing circuits 503 and 603 forconnecting with the LAN, comprising WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)encryption processing circuits 509 and 603. The WEP is the conventionalencryption method, which is normally applied to, be a standard for thepurpose of security protection in the wireless LAN, and can achievecommunication between the transmitter apparatus and the receiverapparatus, under the condition of protecting the security thereof.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the construction of the network providedwithin a house, with using the contents transmitter apparatus 500 andthe contents receiver apparatus 600 therein. In this FIG. 9, the datatransmitter apparatus 500 and two (2) sets of data receiver apparatuses600 a and 600 b are connected with, by means of a wireless access point700, via the wireless LAN. The wireless access point 700 is furtherconnected to the router 400, and the router 400 is connected to theInternet, in the similar manner to the router 400, as shown in FIG. 2mentioned above.

In a case when trying to conduct the mutual authentication between thecontents transmitter apparatus 500 and the contents receiver apparatus600 shown in FIG. 8, and also conduct the transmission of contentstherebetween following thereafter, it is checked on whether the WEPprocess is processed or not by the authentication circuits 504 and 604,within the WEP encryption processing circuits 509 and 609. And, if theWEP process is not processed, then the necessary processes are conductedthereon; such as, neither to conduct the mutual authentication nor thetransmission of contents following thereto, or alternately, to make adisplay for prompting a user to starts up the WEP process, etc., forexample. In the manner as was mentioned above, the contents isnecessarily in the condition that the WEP process is conducted thereon,always, when it is transmitted with using the wireless LAN. As a resultof this, it is possible to avoid other data receiver apparatus frombeing connected with, through the wireless LAN, at a point where theusers of the contents transmitter apparatus 500 and the contentsreceiver apparatus 600 are unconscious thereabout, thereby protectingthe contents from being made a copy thereof illegally.

With other aspects than those mentioned above, it is also possible toachieve the protection of the copyright, by deterring an illegalproduction of a copy of the contents, in the manner being completelysame to the contents transmission method, being executed in the contentstransmitter apparatus and the contents receiver apparatus, explanationof which was already made by referring to the first embodiment throughthe third embodiment in the above, and therefore, at that instance, itis possible to prevent the contents from being transmitted, deviatingfrom the region of the personal use thereof.

FIGS. 10( a) and 10(b) are views for showing examples, wherein a PDA(Personal Digital Assistance) is applied, for example, in the embodimentaccording to the present invention. FIG. 10( a) shows the connectionwhen the authentication is made between the PDA (800) and the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and 500, and FIG. 10( b) shows that whenviewing is made from an outside of the house on the contents of thecontents transmitter apparatuses 100 and 500 locating within the house,by using the PDA (800), on which the above-mentioned authentication ismade. A reference numeral 800 indicates the PDA, on which the contentsdistributed from the contents transmitter apparatuses 100 and 500 can beviewed, and 900 a display, enabling the viewing of the contentsdistributed from the contents transmitter apparatuses 100 and 500,within the house; such as, a plasma display and/or a liquid crystaldisplay, for example.

For example, when connecting the PDA (800) purchased within the house,so as to conduct the time authentication between the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and also between the contents transmitterapparatus 500, respectively. If it is authenticated by the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and the contents transmitter apparatus 500,respectively, then both the contents transmitter apparatuses 100 and 500register the address information of the PDA (800) and also the commonkey, being the unique information of the apparatus to be used whenmaking the time authentication mentioned above, so as to manage themtherein. Consequently, although conventionally it is not allowed for thePDA (800) locating outside the house to receive the contents distributedfrom the contents transmitter apparatuses 100 and 500 within the house,due to the time authentication. However, according to the presentinvention, since it has already received the time authentication, once,within the contents transmitter apparatuses 100 and 500, and also theequipment information is registered therein; therefore, it is possibleto view the contents distributed from the contents transmitterapparatuses 100 and 500, on the PDA if locating in an outside of thehouse.

Embodiment 5

Hereinafter, explanation will be made on an embodiment 5, according tothe present invention.

By referring to the embodiment 5 according to the present invention,explanation will be made on a method for making a check on the contentsof the address information and the equipment information registeredwithin the equipment-information registration circuit 108 of thecontents transmitter apparatus 100, thereby always renewing the contentsthereof to be suitable for the newest structure of the network.

FIG. 11 shows the structure of the equipment-information registrationcircuit 108, which is held within the contents transmitter apparatus100.

With the equipment-information obtaining portion 1081, theequipment-information registration portion 1082, and theequipment-information management portion 1083, they are same to thosementioned above.

An equipment-information checking portion 1084 executes the timeauthentication, by using the timer circuit 107 mentioned above, for thepurpose of checking the information registered within theequipment-information registration portion 1082, and it also gives aninstruction to the equipment-information management portion 1083, torenew the contents of information registered therein, depending upon aresult of the measurement or checking made thereon.

FIG. 12 is a view for showing an example of management data for theequipment-information checking portion 1084 to renew that information,being registered within said equipment-information registration portion1082.

Thus, the equipment-information checking portion 1084 holds managementinformation 1200; such as, a counter setup value 1201 and a presentcounter value 1202 for every the contents receiver apparatus 200, otherthan the address information and the equipment information unique to theapparatus, which are registered in relation to the contents receiverapparatus 200 mentioned above.

Next, explanation will be made on a method for the equipment-informationchecking portion 1084 to check the information registered within theequipment-information registration portion 1082, by referring to FIGS.13 and 14 attached herewith.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the processes, which are executed on theside of the contents transmitter apparatus 100 when the authenticationis succeeded between the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and thecontents receiver apparatus 200. When the authentication is successfulbetween the contents receiver apparatus 200, the contents transmitterapparatus 100 makes a search, on whether the address information and theequipment information unique to the apparatus exist or not, beingcoincident with those of the contents receiver apparatus 200, amongthose registered within the equipment-information registration circuit108 (step 1300). As a result thereof, if there is nothing beingcoincident with those, then it is determined on whether the timeauthentication mentioned above was conducted or not, during the timeperiod when making the above-mentioned authentication (step 1301). Ifdetermining that the time authentication was not conducted, the timeauthentication is executed by using the timer circuit 107 (step 1302).Then, determining is made on a result of the time authentication (step1303). And, if determining that it is succeeded, then the addressinformation and the equipment information unique to the apparatus areregistered within the said equipment-information registration circuit108, about the contents receiver apparatus 200 (step 1304).

Thereafter, the equipment-information checking portion 1084 within thesaid equipment-information register circuit 108 produces the managementinformation 1200 relating to that information registered, and it alsoset up a predetermined value (P1) into the counter setup value 1201(CountMax) and also the present counter value 1202 (Count)) (step 1305).Then, it starts up the said timer circuit 107, while setting up it tomake an event notice every time when passing or elapsing a predeterminedtime-period (T4) (step 1306), and then it comes in the condition ofwaiting for, such as, the information and/or an authentication requestfrom the apparatus on the network, for example (step 1307).

Herein, when being unsuccessful on the time authentication in the step1303, then the time authentication is retried if necessary. And, furtherif it is also unsuccessful; then the process is ended, while bringingthe contents receiver apparatus 200 into the condition that it cannotreceive the contents.

Also, if it is decided, in the step 1300, that the said contentsreceiver apparatus 200 was already registered, then the process isshifted into the step 1305 mentioned above. Or, alternately, it may beshifted into the process of the step 1307 mentioned above, ifCount<CountMax and the said timer circuit 107 is already under theoperation thereof, by referring to the counter setup value 1201(CountMax) and also the present count value 1202 (Count)) within themanagement information.

Further, the predetermined value (P1) to be set up into the countersetup value 1201 (CountMax) in the step 1305 may be a value, beingcommon for all of the contents receiver apparatuses, or it may be one,being different for each of the contents receiver apparatuses.

Next, FIG. 14 shows an example of the processes to be executed on theside of the contents transmitter apparatus 100, when the event notice isgenerated from said timer circuit 107 due to the fact that thepredetermined time-period (T4) passed or elapsed under the condition ofthe step 1307 mentioned above; i.e., waiting the notice.

First, when elapsing the time-period T4, the timer circuit 107 mentionedabove generates a timer event, thereby making a notice to the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 (step 1400). Upon receipt of this, the saidequipment-information checking portion 1084) (step 1401), and itdetermines on whether it satisfies Count=0 or not (step 1402).

As a result of this, in a case where Count=0, although there may be amethod of destroying or deleting the information relating to theabove-mentioned contents receiver apparatus 200 registered within theequipment-information registration circuit 108, and/or theauthentication key, the exchange key and the common key if necessary, atthis time point; however, according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, the time authentication is executed between the said contentsreceiver apparatus 200 with using said timer circuit 107, again (step1403). And then, determination is made on a result of the timeauthentication (step 1404), and if it is succeeded, the value of thecounter setup value 1201 is set into the present counter value 1202within the management information (Count=CountMax) (step 1407), whilestarting up said timer circuit 107 (step 1408) in the similar manner tothe above, thereby bringing the contents transmitter apparatus into thecondition of waiting for a request (step 1307). On the other hand, whenthe time authentication is unsuccessful in the step 1404, then the timeauthentication is retried if necessary. And, further if it is alsounsuccessful, then, said equipment-information checking portion 1084makes a request to the said equipment-information managing portion 1083,so that it deletes the information relating to the contents receiverapparatus 200 mentioned above, and if necessary, it destroys theauthentication key, the exchange key and the common key, too (step1405). Finally, the contents transmitter apparatus is brought into thecondition of waiting for a request (step 1307).

On the other hand, in a case where Count>0 in the step 1402, said thetimer circuit 107 is started up, again, then the contents transmitterapparatus makes a setup, so that it gives an event notice every timewhen elapsing the predetermined time-period (T4) (step 1408), and itturns back into the condition of waiting for a request (step 1307).

Herein, in the mentioned above, though the said equipment-informationchecking portion 1084 makes the time authentication every time whenelapsing the predetermined time-period (T4×CountMax), with using aconstant time-period (T4) as a timing for decrementing the presentcounter setup value 1202, after registering the information relating tothe contents receiver apparatus 200 into the equipment-informationregistration circuit 108; however, it is also possible, while measuringa time-period during when no contents is transmitted (or during atime-period of transmitting the contents), to conduct the timeauthentication when an accumulated value thereof reached to a constantvalue (T5).

Also, in the mentioned above, though using the time periods (T4/T5) forobtaining the timing for renewing the counter setup value, however it isalso possible to use, for example, a predetermined number of packets ofthe contents transmitted to the contents receiver apparatus 200, or apredetermined number of renewals of the common key, which is conductedwhen transmitting the contents.

It is also possible to configure the counter setup value 1201 and thepresent counter setup value, at the time when detecting that there isnone thereof, while making observation always on whether the saidcontents receiver apparatus 200 is locating on the network or not, afterregistering the information relating to the contents receiver apparatus200 into the equipment-information registration circuit 108 mentionedabove; thereby, renewing the present counter setup value 1202, whileconducting the time measurement, periodically, through start-up of saidtimer circuit 107, and deleting the information relating to saidreceiver apparatus 200 from the said equipment-information registrationcircuit 108 if the time-period where no receiver apparatus can be foundon the network reaches to the predetermine time-period, and ifnecessary, destroying the authentication key, the exchange key, and alsothe common key, too. Regarding the method of making the observing onwhether the apparatus is located on the network or not, it should not berestricted to a specific one, but it is also possible to utilize akeep-alive function, which is provide by the TPC, etc.

Moreover, it is also possible to provide a plural number of counters(i.e., CountMax, Count1, CountMax2, Count2) within the saidequipment-information checking portion 1084; thereby combining thetimings in a plural number thereof, for conducting the timeauthentication. Thus, the following can be prospected, for example;i.e., the time authentication is conducted at the time when either onethereof reaches to the predetermined value (the CountMax or CountMax2),while decrementing the present counter setup value Count1 at everytime-period (T4) and also the present counter setup value Count2 atevery number (P1) of the transmission packets.

Herein, in the mentioned above, description was made about the contentstransmitter apparatus 100, however those can be applied also into thecontents transmitter apparatus 500, the contents receiver apparatuses200 and 600, in the similar manner to that mentioned above.

From the above, it is possible to prevent the registration informationrelating to the apparatus, which is not yet connected with or is low onthe frequency in use thereof, from being kept registered within the saidequipment-information registration circuit 108, through periodicalconduction of the time authentication, upon the information relating tothe contents receiver apparatus 200, which is registered within theequipment-information registration circuit 108 by means of theequipment-information checking portions 1804 of the contents transmitterapparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus(es); thereby enablingthe suitable management on the registration information in response tothe network structure.

Embodiment 6

Explanation will be given on a sixth embodiment, according to thepresent invention.

Although the description was made, in the embodiment 5 mentioned above,about the method of conducting the time authentication, periodically,upon the contents receiver apparatus 200 registered within theequipment-information registration circuit 108, with an aid of theequipment-information checking portion 1804 of the contents transmitterapparatus 100; however, in the present embodiment 6, according to thepresent invention, explanation will be made also about a method, whereinthe contents transmitter apparatus 100 conducts the time authentication,at an arbitrary timing when necessary.

Herein, as the time when it is necessary may be, there can be listed upa case; for example, when an electric power source is turned on, or whenthe apparatus is connected to the network, again, while the electricpower source of the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and/or thenetwork is/are cut-off or in the standby condition. Also, there can belisted up a case when conducting such the processes between the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 and the contents receiver apparatus 200; forexample, the reservation for viewing or the reservation for recording,etc., so that there may be caused a trouble if the transmission ofcontents is interrupted during the execution thereof.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a series of processing steps to be executedon the side of the contents transmitter apparatus, in particular, whenthe electric power source is turned on, after the electric power sourceof the contents transmitter apparatus 100 is turned cut-off or standbyin the condition thereof.

Firstly, the contents transmitter apparatus 100 makes up a setup of thesystem and the initialization processes necessary when turning theelectric power source on (step 1500), and it conducts the detection ofthe apparatus locating on the network (step 1501). With the detectionmethod of the apparatuses, it should not be restricted to a specificone, and for an example, it is also possible to apply UP n P (UniversalPlug and Play), Jini, etc.

Next, it is determined on whether the address information and theequipment information unique to the apparatus are registered or not,within the equipment-information registration circuit 108 (step 1502).If there are registered the equipment information about one (1) set ormore of the contents receiver apparatuses 200, then the timeauthentication is executed with using the timer circuit 107 upon thecontents receiver apparatus(es) 200 (step 1503). And, makingdetermination on a result of the time authentication (step 1504), if itis succeeded, the value of the counter setup value 1201 is set into thepresent counter value 1202 (Count=CountMax) within the managementinformation 1200, which is managed by the equipment-information checkingportion 1804 (step 1505), and thereby starting up the said timer circuit107 (step 1507), in the similar manner to that mentioned above.

On the other hand, when it is unsuccessful in the step 1504, the timeauthentication is retried if necessary, and further if it is alsounsuccessful; then, deletion is made on the information relating to thesaid contents receiver apparatus 200, which is registered within theequipment-information registration circuit 108 (step 1506).

And, if the time authentication is completed upon all of the contentsreceiver apparatus(es) registered (step 1508), the contents transmitterapparatus is brought into the condition of waiting for a communicationor a request from the apparatus(es) locating on the network (step 1308).

However, in the steps 1501 and 1502, by making comparison between theapparatus(es) locating on the network at the present and the addressinformation and the equipment information unique to the apparatus, whichare registered in the equipment-information registration circuit 108, itis also possible to delete the address information and the equipmentinformation unique to the apparatus, at that time, in particular,relating to the apparatus(es) not locating on the network, in spite ofexistence of the address information and the equipment informationunique to the apparatus thereof.

Also, said timer circuit 107 is stared up after succeeding the timeauthentication, in the steps 1505 and 1506, however it may be conductedafter the step 1508, for example.

From the above-mentioned, it is possible to renew the registrationinformation into the newest contents thereof, by paying the networkstructure into the consideration, through conducting the timeauthentication onto the contents receiver apparatus(es) 200 registered,in a case when the electric power source of the contents transmitterapparatus 100 is turned on or it is connected onto the network, again,while the electric power source of the contents transmitter apparatus100 and the network are cut-off or in the standby condition.

Next, FIG. 16 shows an example of steps to be executed on the side ofthe contents transmitter apparatus 100, in particular, when conductingthe reservation for recording the contents transmitted by the contentstransmitter apparatus 100 on the contents receiver apparatus 200.

First, the contents transmitter apparatus 100 specifies the contentsreceiver apparatus 200 aimed, being a destination of the contentstransmitting, before starting the reservation for recording (step 1600),and it makes determination on whether the address information and theequipment information unique to the apparatus are registered or not,within the equipment-information registration circuit 108, about thesaid contents receiver apparatus 200 (step 1601). As a result, if it wasalready registered therein, then the time authentication is conducted onthe contents receiver apparatus 200, with using the timer circuit 107(step 1602), thereby making determination upon the result thereof (step1603). If succeeding on the time authentication, then the value of thecounter setup value 1201 is set into the present counter value 1202(Count=CountMax) within the management information 1200, which ismanaged by the equipment-information checking portion 1804 (step 1604),thereby starting the said timer circuit 107 (step 1605), in the similarmanner to that mentioned above. Thereafter, upon receipt of the contentsrequest issued from the said contents receiver apparatus 200, thecontents transmitter apparatus stars the transmission of contents (step1606).

Herein, if the said contents receiver apparatus 200 is not registered,in the step 1601, the contents transmitter apparatus is turned into thecondition of waiting for the authentication request issued from the saidcontents receiver apparatus 200 (step 1307). Herein, about the series ofthe steps mentioned above, but other than the reservation for viewingand/or the execution of the reservation, it is also possible to achieveit by executing the steps similar thereto, when the contents transmittedby the contents transmitter apparatus 100 changes, in particular, in thesort or kind thereof (such as, when a broadcasting program is switchedover, or when a channel selected, or when the program to be stored ischanged, etc., for example). It is also possible to execute the similarprocesses, in the case when detecting the existence of the contentsreceiver apparatus 200, again, which was cut-off from the electric powersource and from the network, once, while observing the said contentsreceiver apparatus 200 always, or when detecting the recordingcondition, etc.

From the above, the contents transmitter apparatus 100 can conduct thetime authentication, in advance, between the contents receiver apparatus200, before the reservation for viewing and the reservation forrecording and so on are executed, so as to turn the present countervalue 1202 (Count) back to the counter setup value (CountMax); therebyenabling to prevent the time authentication from being operated duringthe operations of making the view reservation and the recordingreservation, as far as possible, and also to avoid occurring thesituation of deleting the information registered in relation to the saidcontents receiver apparatus 200, or of interrupting the transmission ofcontents.

Embodiment 7

Hereinafter, explanation will be made on an embodiment 7, according tothe present invention.

With the present embodiment 7, explanation will be made on a method forrenewing the counter value (Count)), which is managed by theequipment-information checking portion 1804 of the contents transmitterapparatus 100, at an arbitrary timing, from a side of the contentsreceiver apparatus 200.

FIG. 17 shows an example of steps for executing the authenticationrequest, between the contents transmitter apparatus 100 and the contentsreceiver apparatus 200. In this figure, the left-hand side indicatesthat of the contents transmitter apparatus 100, while the right-handside that of the contents receiver apparatus 200, and the time-period(T3) shown in FIG. 6 mentioned above is also used herein, regarding thepredetermined value in the time authentication.

As was mentioned previously, when the authentication request is issuedfrom the contents receiver apparatus 200 to the contents transmitterapparatus 100, a series of authentication processes is started. And, ifsucceeding on the execution of the time authentication, then thecontents transmitter apparatus 100 registers the address information andthe equipment information unique to the apparatus thereof into theequipment-information registration circuit 108, in relation to the saidcontents receiver apparatus 200. And, the equipment-information checkingportion 1804 sets the counter setup value (CountMax) into the presentcounter value (Count), in the similar manner mentioned above, and itstarts up the said timer circuit 107, thereafter being in the waitingcondition to a request from the said contents receiver apparatus 200and/or the other apparatus(es) locating on the network.

Herein, according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the saidcontents transmitter apparatus 100 deletes the information relating tothe said contents receiver apparatus 200, which is registered within theequipment-information registration circuit 108, when the present countervalue reaches to zero (Count=0).

Under such the situation, when the said contents receiver apparatus 200produces the transmission request upon contents 1, to transmit it to thesaid contents transmitter apparatus 100, then said contents transmitterapparatus 100 encrypts the said contents 1, so as to transmit itthereto. When further requesting to receiving contents 2 aftercompleting the receipt of the said contents 1, the said contentsreceiver apparatus 200 produces an request for executing the timeauthentication and transmit it to said contents transmitter apparatus100. Upon receipt of the said request, the said contents transmitterapparatus 100 executes the time authentication with using the said timercircuit 107, and if succeeding thereon, it sets the said present countervalue (Count) into the counter setup value (CountMax), again.Thereafter, the said contents transmitter apparatus 200 produces thetransmittion request on the contents 2, and thereby transmitting ittowards the said contents transmitter apparatus 100.

Though the contents receiver apparatus 200 transmits an executionrequest upon the time authentication, during the time-period ofreceiving the contents 1 and the contents 2, in the above, however itmay be conducted, periodically, or further at an arbitrary timing (suchas, before making the reservation viewing/reservation recording, or whenturning the electric power source on, for example).

There may be also a method for transmitting the execution request on thetime authentication, such as; wherein the contents receiver apparatus200 transmits it, while inquiring the present counter value (Count)) tothe contents transmitter apparatus 100, in particular, when the saidcounter value comes to be equal or less than a predestined thresholdvalue.

From those mentioned above, for the contents receiver apparatus 200, bytransmitting the execution request on the time authentication towardsthe contents transmitter apparatus 100, it is possible to make control,so as not to delete the information, which is registered relating to thesaid receiver apparatus, locating on the side of the contentstransmitter apparatus 100.

In the above, the explanation was fully made about the presentembodiments according to the present invention, wherein the contentstransmitter apparatus executes the authentication upon theauthentication request from the contents receiver apparatus andregisters the address information and the unique information forequipment about the contents receiver apparatus; therefore it ispossible to provide the contents transmitter apparatus and the receiverapparatus, enabling to execute the copy protection for preventing thecontents from being made an illegal copy thereof, in particular, whentransmitting the contents with using the wired or wireless LAN, andfurther it is also possible to limit the legal viewing and the copyproduction of the contents within the personal use thereof. However, itis needless to say that the effects similar to the above-mentioned canbe also achieved, while the contents receiver apparatus authenticatesthe contents transmitter apparatus, and the address information and theunique information of equipment are registered about the contentstransmitter apparatus. And also, in the explanation made in the above,an object to be transmitted through the network was explained to thecontents, such as, video information, etc., and the contents transmitterapparatus and the receiver apparatus are those for transmitting andreceiving such the contents; however, it is also same to other kinds ofinformation than such the video information, etc., and with informationprocessing apparatuses inputting/outputting those information, thereforeit is needless to say that the present invention can be also appliedtherein.

Further, with executing the time authentication, periodically orappropriately between the contents transmitter apparatus and thecontents receiver apparatus, it is possible to obtain a dynamicalmanagement upon the registration contents, such as, the addressinformation and/or the unique information of equipment mentioned above,etc.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide thecontents transmitter apparatus and the receiver apparatus, enabling thecopy protection to be executed for preventing the contents from theillegal copying thereof, during when transmitting the contents, evenwith using the wired or wireless LAN provided within a house, andfurther restricting the legal viewing and copy production of thecontents can be made within the region of the personal use thereof.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential feature or characteristicsthereof. The present embodiment(s) is/are therefore to be considered inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforgoing description and range of equivalency of the claims aretherefore to be embraces therein.

1. A contents transmitter apparatus, comprising: network communicationprocessing means for conducting transmission of data through a network;transmission contents producing means for supplying contents to betransmitted to a contents receiver apparatus which is connected to thecontents transmitter apparatus through said network, to said networkcommunication processing means; authentication means for receiving anauthentication request from said contents receiver apparatus forexecuting an authentication process between said contents transmitterapparatus and said contents receiver apparatus, and for transmitting atime authentication request for a time authentication to said contentsreceiver apparatus; encryption means for producing key information uponthe basis of information which is obtained through execution of theauthentication process by said authentication means, and for conductingan encryption process on the contents with said key information; timermeans for measuring a first time-period beginning from said transmissionof the time authentication request until reception of a response to saidtime authentication request; and registration means for registeringequipment information about said contents receiver apparatus, wherein:said authentication means registers equipment information unique to saidcontents receiver apparatus by using said registration means, when ameasurement result of said timer means does not exceed a predeterminedvalue, said authentication means does not conduct said timeauthentication by using said timer means in the case where saidequipment information unique to said contents receiver apparatus isregistered in said registration means, and said authentication meansexecutes a measurement, by using said timer means, of a secondtime-period which is an accumulated time-period for contentstransmission after said equipment information of said contents receiverapparatus is registered by said authentication means using saidregistration means, and deletes said equipment information by using saidregistration means depending upon a result of said measurement of saidsecond time-period.
 2. The contents transmitter apparatus, as isdescribed in the claim 1, wherein said time authentication is conductedevery predetermined time-period or every predetermined number ofcontents packets, with respect to said contents receiver apparatus, theequipment information of which is registered within said registrationmeans, thereby renewing contents registered within said registrationmeans depending upon a result of the measurement by means of said timermeans.
 3. The contents transmitter apparatus, as is described in theclaim 1, wherein said time authentication is conducted when an electricpower source is turned on, when a system is started, when the contentstransmitter apparatus is connected to a network, or when a reservationof the contents is executed, or when the contents are changed, withrespect to said contents receiver apparatus which is registered withinsaid registration means, thereby renewing contents registered withinsaid registration means depending upon a result of a measurement bymeans of said timer means.
 4. A contents receiver apparatus, comprising:authentication means for receiving a time authentication request from acontents transmitter apparatus which is connected to the contentsreceiver apparatus through a network, and for sending a response to saidtime authentication request to said contents transmitter apparatus; anddecryption means for producing key information upon the basis ofinformation which is obtained through execution of an authenticationprocess by said authentication means, and for executing decryptionprocess of contents received from said contents transmitter apparatuswith said key information, wherein: the authentication means transmitsthe response to the time authentication request to said contentstransmitter apparatus so that measurement of a time-period until thereception of said response is conducted by said contents transmitterapparatus, and equipment information unique to said contents receiverapparatus is registered into said contents transmitter apparatus in thecase where the result of said measurement does not exceed apredetermined value.
 5. A contents transmitting method in a contentstransmitter apparatus for transmitting contents to a contents receiverapparatus which is connected through a network to the contentstransmitter apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: receiving anauthentication request from said contents receiver apparatus; executingan authentication process upon said authentication request; transmittinga time authentication request for a time authentication to said contentsreceiver apparatus; measuring a first time-period until a response tosaid time authentication request is received; registering equipmentinformation of said contents receiver apparatus, the registering stepincluding registering said equipment information unique to said contentsreceiver apparatus when a result of the measuring step does not exceed apredetermined value; producing key information upon the basis ofinformation obtained through execution of said authentication process;encrypting said contents by using said key information; and transmittingthe encrypted contents to said contents receiver apparatus though thenetwork, wherein: the contents transmitter apparatus does not transmitsaid time authentication request for said time authentication in thecase where said equipment information unique to said contents receiverapparatus is registered in the registering step, and the contentstransmitter apparatus executes a measurement of a second time-periodwhich is an accumulated time-period for contents transmission after saidequipment information of said contents receiver apparatus is registeredin the registering step, and deletes said equipment informationdepending upon a result of said measurement of said second time-period.